why I am thankful

1 Thessalonians 5:18  NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Here are just a few reasons why I am thankful:

Colossians 2:7  NLT

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Hebrews 10:22  NASB

let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Colossians 3:15-16  NLT

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Those three passages hemorrhage the heart cry of people who are seeking God with all they have.  With the heart, from the heart, sincerity of heart, with their whole heart … all of those phrases speak to what happens in the person who wants God more than anything else.

As I have already said when we have God on our mind more, we will be more thankful; and when we are more thankful, we will want more of God. 

How do we pursue or want more of God.  Begin with the overflow because of the roots of your life going deep into the truth and person of God.  Move further with confidence because of the salvation and change that God has brought in to your life.  Let God’s peace and His word run wild through all of your life.  One sure outcome will be a thankful heart.

Why am I thankful?

Colossians 4:2  NLT

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

My prayer life keeps me sharp and my heart thankful.

Psalm 69:30  NLT

Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.

Praising God and being thankful honors God.

Psalm 100:4  NLT

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

Begin with thanks.  Choose to be thankful because it is a choice and not always natural.

2 Corinthians 4:15  NLT

All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

The more we recognize what God does the more thankful we will be, and God is still working each and every day!

Ephesians 5:20 NLT

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.